<p>Welcome to The Huddle’s AFL Finals previews!</p> <p>After a long season and one of the tightest races ever to secure a place in the September action, we are down to the final eight teams that will battle it out for this year's AFL Premiership.</p> <p>As we gear up for all the September action, it’s time to look at and preview all the teams that have qualified for the AFL Finals in 2025.</p> <p>After being the pacesetter for so long in 2025, Collingwood’s late-season nosedive put them at risk of falling out of the top four. Alas, a slice of luck fell their way, and they maintained their double chance.</p> <p>But, do they have enough petrol tickets left to take them all the way to a record-breaking 17th Premiership?</p> <p>For the latest news, analysis, picks, and betting tips, read our Collingwood Magpies finals preview below!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Collingwood Magpies Road to the AFL Finals</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It started as it did last year, with a loss to the Giants up in Sydney in the Opening Round.&nbsp;</p> <p>Naturally, it didn’t take long for the calls and concerns about Collingwood’s future prospects beyond this year looked like given the decisions to load up on more experienced players at the trade table.&nbsp;</p> <p>What followed was breathtaking.&nbsp;</p> <p>A 95 point demolition of Port Adelaide at the MCG began an incredible run of 14 wins in 15 weeks. Even the one they did drop, they had a chance to win it after the siren in Jack Crip’s milestone match for <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/afl/news/most-consecutive-afl-games">Most Consecutive AFL Games Ever.</a>&nbsp;</p> <p>Collingwood opened up a staggering 10 point gap to the next best at the top of the AFL ladder. They began managing their squad methodically and everyone was casting the head thinking who they would meet on Grand Final day as they took all before them.</p> <p>Then came the wobble.&nbsp;</p> <p>After failing to not kick a goal in the first half against the Gold Coast, the Pies did their trademark come roaring back into the game and almost pinch it at the death thing, but they fell short. Beaten by an inspired Noah Anderson play from the centre bounce.&nbsp;</p> <p>They dropped the following game too, back home this time at the MCG against Fremantle in a classic game where it was the Dockers who channeled their inner Collingwood and came from behind to beat them by a point.</p> <p>They found a win the following week against Richmond, but the slide kept on happening.&nbsp;</p> <p>Back to back defeats to fellow contenders Brisbane and Hawthorn, both at the MCG and suddenly, after being so far ahead of the pack, the Pies were at the risk of dropping out of the top-four.&nbsp;</p> <p>A trip to Adelaide the following week, a place they hadn’t lost in over 10 years, to take on the red-ho Crows was going to be a test to see where they were at and how in order their game was heading into September.&nbsp;</p> <p>They dropped the game, with the Crows being the more organized of the two sides in a sea-sawing, heavily weather impacted contest. But the Pies emerged finding something that resembled their DNA.</p> <p>Needing to win the final game of the season against Melbourne to put themselves, at least temporarily back into the top-four was a must. They were trailing by 15 points midway through the final quarter and looked as if they would have to win the Premiership the hard way, but found their Collingwood football and rallied from behind to hit the front in the final minutes and secure the win.&nbsp;</p> <p>They were given a massive helping hand by their, lets call them their ‘prison bar frenemies’ Port Adelaide who somehow got over the Gold Coast Suns, locking the Pies into the top-four.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Collingwood Magpies Players to Watch</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Jordan De Goey</h3> <p>Collingwood’s ‘Mr September’, Jordan De Goey hasn’t played a lot of football this year as he’s battled an Achillies injury.</p> <p>But, through the cushion generated, the Pies have been able to carefully rest him and manage him and his game time to have him primed for when he does his best work.</p> <p>A notorious big game player, he’s delivered the goods in almost every final he’s played. You know he’s going to cook again.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Nick Daicos</h3> <p>The young champ has become everything to Collingwood.&nbsp;</p> <p>He’s their best and most important player in their line up who can just about do everything out on the field.&nbsp;</p> <p>Remember too, he didn’t really play the last finals series, as he was on the comeback trail from a knee injury before coming back in the Prelim and Grand Final. While he performed admirably, he was far from his best.&nbsp;</p> <p>Imagine what he’s got in store when he’s fully fit this time around.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Dan Houston</h3> <p>He’s the high-priced recruit who Collingwood invested much of their future in this year. But Dan Houston’s first year in the Black and White has been underwhelming.&nbsp;</p> <p>Reputations are made and broken in Finals footy, and Collingwood fans and coaches alike will be hoping that Houston can solve the problem and deliver in the biggest of moments.&nbsp;</p> <p>He’s made a shift from halfback to the wing and midfield in recent weeks, as the Pies look to utilize his kicking as a weapon to drive them forward.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Why can Collingwood win the AFL Premiership?</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>If they can get back to anything resembling the football they played in the first half of the season, it’s over for everyone else.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thanks to Port Adelaide winning, they’ve got the top four spot and that guarantees them at least one MCG final. Their first final is at a place (Adelaide Oval) where they have lost only one time in the past 10 trips. They win that, they're in a Prelim and one win away from going for a record 17th flag.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>What will hold Collingwood back from the 2025 AFL Premiership?</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Has father-time caught up with the Pies?</p> <p>Has the reliance on too many 30 plus year olds, and Nick Daicos, finally caught up with them as teams have slowly begun to work them out?</p> <p>Further, they will need to make a call on some injured players to determine their availability for the September campaign, including the super integral Jeremy Howe.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> straight-sets exit. Semi Final&nbsp;</p> <p><br /> &nbsp;</p> <h2>How many AFL Premierships does Collingwood have?</h2> <p>16</p> <p>Collingwood is tied with Carlton and Essendon having won the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/afl/news/most-afl-premierships">Most Premierships in VFL/AFL History.&nbsp;</a></p> <p>Their record-equalling 16th flag came just in 2023, where they defeated Brisbane by four points in a classic Grand Final contest.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Collingwood Magpies Premiership Odds:</h2>